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Aussie author has books permanently pulled from public schools

The books of children's author Craig Silvey have been permanently pulled from WA public schools after he pleaded guilty to child exploitation offences.

Silvey, 43, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material at Fremantle Magistrates Court yesterday, and the Western Australian Department of Education has moved quickly to make a temporary ban on his books in the state's public schools permanent.

"There is absolutely no place in our school system for works authored by someone who has admitted to such serious crimes," Education Minister Sabine Winton said in a statement.

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Craig Silvey

"Now that he has pleaded guilty, those texts will not return to the curriculum.

"Predatory behaviour against children is abhorrent and has no place in our community, let alone in materials studied by students in our schools."

Winton added the department was working with schools to help adjust curriculums and lesson plans, as well as making sure Year 12 students who had already studied them and were working towards using them in their final exams would not be penalised.

Detectives from Western Australian Police's Child Abuse Squad raided Silvey's Fremantle home, earlier this year, allegedly catching him communicating online with child exploitation offenders and seizing his electronic devices.

The father of three was later hit with extra charges, including allegations he produced child exploitation material between February and June 2022, and possessed further material on January 12 this year.

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Education Minister Sabine Winton said there was no place for his material to be seen in WA public schools.

The popular author is best known for his 2009 coming‑of‑age novel Jasper Jones, which is considered a modern Australian classic and has been adapted into a feature film and several stage productions.

He has also been widely recognised for other books, including Rhubarb, Honeybee, which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021, and the children's novel Runt, which was also made into a film.

Publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press, which released Rhubarb, stopped promoting his books after the original charges were laid and most of his titles were removed from reading lists across the country.

Silvey's bail was continued, and he is next due to appear in the District Court on July 3 for sentencing.

Support is available from the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

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